Supporting Actor

No, most likely it is the Kirch Group prints that were part of the UK 21 disc dvd set over 10 years ago that were later remastered for the US set released in 2011.

According to L&H expert Richard W. Bann there is no plans for a bluray release in the near future but all are in HD and available on iTunes.

"Way Out West" did get a full restoration a few years ago and if this is now going out into theatres, it will be a sight to behold (and minus a very badly timed jumpcut during the song "Trail of the Lonesome Pine" which was in the Kirch version of the movie)

Producer

As a non U.S. Resident, I'll choose this topic to voice my profound disappointment in being denied access to the Laurel & Hardy HD restorations, which can only be accessed via the U.S. version of iTunes! I have no doubt this is due to U.S. only release rights issues, that don't include Canada in the mix! It's the same issue that prevents Turner Classic Movies from airing the bulk of the Hal Roach Film Library on their Canadian feed. Based on what I've heard from a most reliable source, this would require additional sublicensing fees that evidently neither TCM, nor Sonar Entertainment deemed to be worthwhile shelling out for. Thus this situation is by their own choosing, despite what has been posted on the TCM Message Boards, regarding their unsuccessful attempts to acquire Canadian Broadcast rights for the 1937 Hal Roach Cary Grant feature comedy, TOPPER.

I'll state further that as the shift continues away from importable physical media toward the strictly digital formats, it will likely become ever more difficult to legally obtain titles that are only available internationally, but on digital platforms that can only be accessed by a specific nation's residents. For instance, unlike the UK based Network On Air Blu-ray of the L&H Public Domain title, THE FLYING DEUCES (1939), there's no way for me to order the U.S. iTunes based HD version of WAY OUT WEST as an import! I would if I could!

The iTunes versions are from the actual HD Transfers that were previously used for the 2011 RHI/Vivendi (Now Sonar Entertainment) release of the 10 DVD set of LAUREL & HARDY: THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION, for which they were actually downrezzed. These HD transfers had been prepared in the event of a subsequent Blu-ray release that sadly, has not happened, and I suspect may never occur!

Did you happen to check out SONS OF THE DESERT? If so, does the imaging look less muddy on the HD Masters, or is it essentially the same (Other than the higher resolution, of course!) as on the LAUREL & HARDY: THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION DVD set?

Banned

The restorations are being made for the Laurel&Hardy talkies. But on ebay there were three nitrate original prints for silent films of the boys, and onne from Stan Laurel film. Frozen Hearts, Why Girls Love Sailors, You' re Darn Tootie, Big Bussines, Frozen Hearts.

If I'm right, a restorer from Europe managed to buy the prints and will check if it's better or have missing scenes, or if it's a alternate take version or alternate camera version.

Second Unit

Just noticed today that a batch of Laurel & Hardy silent shorts are available now for free viewing for Amazon Prime members. They're listed as being from a company named CineAmerica. Looked at one on my phone and it looks pretty good. Will have to wait and see what they look like on my bigger screen when I get home.

Producer

Did you happen to check out SONS OF THE DESERT? If so, does the imaging look less muddy on the HD Masters, or is it essentially the same (Other than the higher resolution, of course!) as on the LAUREL & HARDY: THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION DVD set?

Producer

Fries Film Archief, who with Lobster Films, restored the 1924 Stan Laurel short DETAINED (Including the complete hanging scene, and the long lost second part of the film!), and has made it available for viewing on YouTube:In keeping with part of the topic theme, the above is presented in 720p, or entry level HD.

Producer

Just to provide further clarification, the existing home video editions of THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY (1927) contain the following:
Reel One:
- Opening Titles
- Fight Scene
(Followup Insurance scene with Eugene Palette is missing.)

Reel Two:
- Consists of less than 4 minutes of footage from the condensed pie fight footage, lifted from Robert Youngson's THE GOLDEN AGE OF COMEDY (1957) silent comedy compilation feature.
(More than half of Reel Two is missing.)

In contrast, the unreleased near complete version of THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY (1927) includes the following:
Reel One:
- Opening Titles
- Fight Scene
(Followup Insurance scene with Eugene Palette is missing.)

Reel Two:
- Now complete. Includes lead in footage of Stan and Oliver walking down a street, that precedes the tripping on the Banana Peel which leads to the now complete massive Pie Fight sequence; plus Oliver's long unseen final exchange with a cop, following the messy proceedings.

In my opinion, the continued absence of the near complete edition of THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY (1927) on home video is a crime against humanity. The rights holders seriously need to get their act together and make this comedy gem available to the masses in some form, if not on physical media, then at least in the form of digital downloads / streaming that's not limited by the exclusion of non U.S. territories, if that is even possible. Continued isolated presentations at festivals and conventions over 2 and a half years on just doesn't cut the mustard anymore!